Louver construction



April 2, 1968 T. s; SCONZO LOUVER CONSTRUCTION Filed Aug. 12, 1966 IN VEN TOR. 7170/1445" G.- .S'C ONZO ATTORNEY 3,3 75,609 Patented Apr. 2., 1968 3,375,609 LOUVER CONSTRUCTION Thomas G. Sconzo, Macon St., Sayville, N.Y. 11782 Filed Aug. 12, 1966, Ser. No. 572,129 9 Claims. (Cl. 49-403) The present invention relates to an improvement in louver constructions, and in particular, to means adapted to louvers and providing a scalloped outline along the ends of louver panels.

In the development of louver constructions, it has been found that a more pleasant appearance along the ends of louvers makes them more attractive and useful by being decorative. Heretofore, louvers have had no provision for such decoration or ornamentation along the edges of the louvers or louver panes where they are supported by brackets or locking devices.

Accordingly, it is an object of my present invention to provide a louver construction wherein the ends of the louver panes include means for imparting a decorative elfect to the louver.

Another object of my present invention is to provide a louver construction, as set forth, wherein the means for imparting a decorative effect to the louver, include curved edges whereby a scalloped appearance or other decorative effect is obtained.

Another object of my present invention is to provide a louver construction with decorative means, as set forth, which is adapted to cooperate with the bracket device or locking device for supporting the ends of louver panes.

Yet another object of my present invention is to provide a louver construction with decorative means, as set forth, which is adaptable to varying dimensions of louver panes.

Still another object of my present invention is to provide a louver construction with decorative means, as set forth, having sealing edges whereby water and humidity is prevented from seeping around the ends of the louver panes.

A further object of my present invention is to provide louver constructions wtih decorative means, as set forth, which are of sheet metal construction and form a single decorative and integral member.

A yet further object of my present invention is to provide decorative means for louver constructions, as set forth, which are readily adaptable and installable in existing louvers.

A still further object of my present invention is to provide decorative means for louver constructions, as set forth, which may be manufactured simply and economically.

With the preceding objects in view, my invention comprises the combination of a bracket device for retaining and supporting louver panels, the device having supporting members contacting the sides and edges at the end of the panels, and a tensioned ornamental member held between the bracket'and the panel and having a curved section providing a scalloped image.

The detailed description of a preferredembodiment of my invention appears in the following specification taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a vertical elevational view of a louver construction showing the scalloped outline along the ends of the louver panes;

FIGURE 2 is a vertical sectional view, taken'along line 22 in FIGURE 1 and shows the louver in closed condition;

FIGURE 3 corresponds to the view of FIGURE 2 and shows the louver in open condition;

FIGURE 4 is an isometric view showing the locking device for retaining and supporting the ends of louver panes;

FIGURE 5 is an isometric view of the decorative member whereby a scalloped appearance at the ends ofthe louver panes is obtained;

FIGURE 6 is a sectional view taken along line 6-6 of FIGURE 5, and shows the preformed curvature of the decorative member for providing spring action and water sealing features and FIGURE 7 is an isometric view of the assembly of the locking device of FIGURE 4 and the decorative member of FIGURE 5, and shows the manner in which these two elements are disposed in relation to each other.

Referring to the drawing wherein like members refer to like parts, a conventional louver construction 10 consists of a frame 11 at the bottom 12 of which is a downwardly extending sill 13 for retaining a cross weather strip 14. A rear portion 15 of the frame 11 is provided with a bearing mechanism 16 for opening and closing the panes 17. The bearing mechanism has an operator handle 18 which is pivotally connected to a link member 19. The latter is, in turn, connected, at its other end, to an actuator bar 20. A link bolt 21 secures the link member 19 to the actuator bar 20.

The actuator bar 20 is disposed on either side of frame 11. Each actuator bar has connected thereto a series of successively arranged bracket locking devices 22 which are shown more clearly in FIGURE 4. These bracket devices are arranged on either side of the frame and constructed so as to form mirror images of each other;

The bracket device is provided with an offset ann 23 which is pivotally connected to the actuator bar 20 by means of the bolt 24. The offset arm is an extension of a side piece of weathering wall 25 which is provided with a vertical flange 26. Extending angularly from the lower portion of the flange 26 is a horizontal outwardly extending flange 27. The weathering wall 25, furtherrnore, is provided with a section 28 at the upper end of which is an outwardly extending horizontal flange 29. The weathering wall 25 with the flanges 26 and 27, and sections 28 and flange 29, cooperate to form a space for accommodating the end 30 of pane 17. This particular construction also applies to the opposed locking device 22.

The locking device is, in addition, provided with an upwardly and outwardly extending wall 31 forming part of the base for offset arm 23. The wall 31, in turn, includes an inclined cam surface 32. The offset arm 23 and the wall 31 are provided with a locking member 33 which is pivoted thereto by means of a bolt 34. The locking member is provided with a right-angled outwardly extending portion 35 which is adapted to bear against the face of pane 17. The portion 35 includes a rib 35a which provides spring action and assures that the portion 35 bears firmly against the pane. The section 28 is provided with a similar rib 28a for this purpose.

The locking member 33 can be swung outwardly on its bolt 34 so as to permit the removal of the pane 17 from the device 22. At the same time the inclined cam surface extends laterally, as shown in FIGURE 4, so that there is positive locking and holding action of the member 33 which, in turn, presses against the face of the pane 17 in a positive manner. The pane is thus maintained within a confined area outlined by the parts 25, 26, 27, 28, 29 and 35.

To provide a scalloped outline along the ends of the panes, as shown in FIGURE 2, the ornamental plate member 36 is provided. The member 36 has a rectangular wall 37 which corresponds in length to the flange 26. The ornamental member 36 is assembled with the locking device 22 so that the wall 37 rests against the weathering Wall 25. Extending angularly from the wall 37 is a curved section 38. This curved section has a straight-line portion 39 at the top and bottom of the section. The straight-line portions connect, in tum, with the top and bottom edges of the wall 37 and with the curved profile 40. The lengths of the straight-line portions 39 are substantially equal to the width of the flange 26.

The member 36 is assembled with respect to the locking device 22 and the pane 17 so that the curved section bears against the vertical flange 26 and the wall 37 is in contact with the weathering wall 25. The curved section 38 is interposed between the end 30 of the pane 17 and the vertical flange 26 when all elements are properly assembled in place. Accordingly, with this construction the end 30 of pane 17 is confined and held by the horizontal flange 27, section 28, horizontal flange 29, extending portion 35, wall 37 and curved section 38. By inserting a member 36, in this manner, at each end of all panes, the scalloped effect shown in FIGURE 2 is realized. FIGURE 7 illustrates the member 36 fixed and assembled in relation to the locking device 22. In view of the fact that the straight-line edges are concealed by the vertical flange 26, the exterior arrangement of the louvers provides an appearance consisting of a series of connected curved portions, and presents, thereby, the desired scalloped effect.

In order to assure that the member 36 is held firmly in place, even when in a vibrational environment, the curved section 38 is preformed so that its cross section, as taken along line 66 in FIGURE 5, has imparted to it a curvature 41. The member 36 is made of spring material and, accordingly, is preset permanently in the section 38. When, therefore, the member 36 is assembled in place, and the section 38 is pressed against the exterior surface of the pane by means of the vertical flange 26, the curved edge 40 bears grippingly and sharply against the surface of the pane. This gripping action, due to the spring material of member 36 in combination with the curvature 41, gives rise to static frictional forces which assure that the curved edge 40 is sealingly maintained against the exterior surface of the pane. The member 36 can, therefore, not be loosened or jarred from its designated assembled position, by the normally prevailing vibrations or those vibrations generated from the opening and closing of the louvers. The sealing effect of the curved edge 40 against the exterior pane 17, also operates to prevent water or humidity from seeping to the exterior of the panes along a path between the end of the pane and the locking device.

While I have described this invention in some detail, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that variations and modifications may be made without depart ing from the spirit thereof or the scope of the following claims.

What I claim as novel and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a louver construction, a bracket device retaining and supporting a louver panel, said device having supporting members contracting the sides and edges at the end of said panel, and a tensioned ornamental member held between said bracket and said panel and having a curved section providing a scalloped image, said ornamental member including a wall section extending angularly from said curved section, and held between said bracket device and an end edge of said panel.

2. A louver construction according to claim 1, wherein said wall section is of rectangular shape and cross section.

3. A louver construction according to claim 2, wherein said curved section of said ornamental member includes two parallel straight-line edges adjoining the edges of said wall section.

4. The louver construction of claim 3, wherein said curved section of said ornamental member has a curved edge intersecting said straight-line edges.

5. The louver construction of claim 3, wherein the length of said wall section corresponds to the Width of said panel and said straight-line edges are flush with the edges of said wall section.

6. A louver construction according to claim 4, wherein said curved section is constructed of spring material and has a curvature perpendicular to said curved edge so that when said curved section is forced against the face of said panel, a spring action prevails whereby said curved edge bears firmly against the face of said panel.

7. A louver construction according to claim 1, wherein said panel has an exterior and interior face, an upper and lower side, and an end surface perpendicular to said faces and said sides, the width of said wall portion being within the thickness of said panel and the length of said wall portion being within the width of said panel determined by the distance between said upper and lower side, said wall section being of rectangular shape and cross section; and a curved portion extending angularly from said wall portion and terminating in a curved edge extending over the length of said wall portion, said curved portion being held in contact with said exterior face of said panel by said bracket device and having a preformed curvature in any plane along the length of said wall portion and perpendicular thereto, said preformed curvature providing spring action when held against said panel by said bracket device.

8. A louver construction according to claim 7, wherein said curved portion has straight-line edges extending from said wall portion having upper and lower edges the lengths of which correspond to the width of said wall portion, said straight-line edges being parallel and connecting to said upper and lower edges, and said curved edge intersecting said straight-line edges and being concave from said wall portion.

9. A louver construction according to claim 8, wherein a plurality of louver panels are'situated adjacent to one another so that their exterior faces are in the same plane, each of said panels being supported at each end by said bracket device, and one of said ornamental members is securely held by each of said devices against said panel,

so that the combined outline of the curved edges of said ornamental members correspond to a scalloped outline.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS DAVID J. WILLIAMOWSKY, Primary Examiner.

P. C. KANNAN, Assistant Examiner. 

1. IN A LOUVER CONSTRUCTION, A BRACKET DEVICE RETAINING AND SUPPORTING A LOUVER PANEL, SAID DEVICE HAVING SUPPORTING MEMBERS CONTRACTING THE SIDES AND EDGES AT THE END OF SAID PANEL, AND A TENSIONED ORNAMENTAL MEMBER HELD BETWEEN SAID BRACKET AND SAID PANEL AND HAVING A CURVED SECTION PROVIDING A SCALLOPED IMAGE, SAID ORNAMENTAL MEMBER INCLUDING A WALL SECTION EXTENDING ANGULARLY FROM SAID CURVED SECTION, AND HELD BETWEEN SAID BRACKET DEVICE AND AN END EDGE OF SAID PANEL. 